‘Joker’ sets October box office record in the US

‘Joker’ is getting the first laugh on its debut weekend, scoring a US October box office record with $13.3 million (Dh48.8 million) earned in Thursday night showings.

Warner Bros released the figures on Friday morning. ‘Joker’ unseated ‘Venom,’ which also holds the record for best October opening with $80.3 million, according to Comscore.

The strong start comes after weeks of discussion about the R-rated film and whether it will inspire some to commit violence. The film stars Joaquin Phoenix as the man who becomes Batman’s classic nemesis in the origin story film.

Some victims of the Aurora, Colorado, theatre massacre that occurred during a 2012 ‘Dark Knight Rises’ showing have called on Warner Bros to support gun control initiatives, which the studio says it already does.

A theatre in Huntington Beach, California, cancelled two screenings on Thursday night after receiving a threat, police said. Friday showings have resumed as scheduled.

Both Phoenix and director Todd Phillips have defended the film, with the actor saying he trusts audiences to know the difference between right and wrong.

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